Cops Off Campus Solidarity Assembly

Join us for a public assembly in support of Cops Off Campus.Wednesday, November 11th before the national day of action, on Byng Place just round the corner from ULU and Malet Street.On Wednesday last week, a group of students across different universities occupied the office of the vice chancellor of Univeristy of London in Senate House. Without adequate legal notice, the University management got the police to heavy-handedly evict the occupiers. A solidarity demonstration had been called outsided, and with increasing levels of aggression from the police, six students were arrested.Following the increasing cooperation between University management and police and the recent arrests of both University of London Union president and vice-president, a #CopsOffCampus protest had been called for Thursday, November 5th. Hundreds of students came out to put their right to protest into play. As blood stained the pavements, a further 38 students, journalists amongst them, were handcuffed and taken to police stations outside London.In the past months, students in universities across the UK have seen their right to protest eroded by their own institutions. Last week, University of London placed an injunction on its premises, making university occupations – traditionally a legitimate tool in student politics to put pressure on managements – illegal until June.Universities are public institutions, yet practicing democratic rights within them is fast becoming a punishable offence, as university management increasingly allow the police to protect their policies of privatisation. This is yet another example of how austerity has to be enforced by violence.
But, this is not just about the right to protest: it is also about fair contracts for outsourced workers and fair pay for staff. It is about stopping the sell-off of of student loans to loan sharks. It is about the commodification of education, and the rise of corporate-style university management. It is about the undemocratically decided closure of a London-wide body that represents all students, ULU.

Students are calling for universities to be run democratically, and for their own right to take part in political action. They are calling for an end to the university’s increasing use of force to put through policies that damage this democratic right.

December 11th is a national day of action to condemn this abuse of the rights of all to protest, and to campaign. On Wednesday, students will again defend these rights as they gather to protest the increasing collusion between university management and police to smooth the transition to privatise the institution.

We Stand In Solidarity With ULU and Universities Across The UK to keep #CopsOffCampus